Chapter 192 - It Can't Be A Bet If You Are Not Going To Give Up Something

''Hi, Natalie. We meet again''

''Right, I heard you couldn't wait to work with me'' Natalie said sarcastically as she sat across Susan in the company's meeting room.

''I will be working with Mikael on a project. We will be playing a couple. I think there are going to be a lot of intimate scenes between us''

''That's funny''

''What is funny?''

''It's funny how you are trying so hard make something out of nothing. But I need to remind you that you will only be playing a couple which is acting. That is all you are ever going to be. A couple on the screen''

''What?''

''Susan, I am very professional when it comes to my work so I suggest you drop all sarcasm aside and let's start work. You might have taken this project to spite and make things difficult for me but I take this seriously. I don't care what your intentions are but let me say this. I will not allow you to use my time for nothing apart from work''

''Why? Are you already angry? I can't believe you are even trying to lecture me. Natalie, you might think you are all it but let me tell you. Mikael fell for me once, he can fall for me again. I know your marriage is yet to be document. Which means you are not actually married to him yet''

''You even went through all the trouble to investigate my marriage with Mikael? You must be so thirsty for my husband. But I have to burst your bubbles. Mikael and I are married and our marriage is recognized by the laws of the country. What you saw are the fake documents that are intentionally placed at the City bureau's office for people like you''

''What?''

''Miss Susan, this morning I made a lot of designs. Look through it and let me know which one of them interest you'' Natalie pushed a file in front of Susan.

Susan looked at the file. She opened it and looked at the designs. There were ten sheets of different designs.

''Jason told me that you wanted to do a complete set of designs featuring earrings, necklace, choker, embedded chain, bracelet and an anklet so I made these designs with that in mind''

''These designs are indeed fresh but, are you sure they are not plagiarized? I admit, you are a good designer, but these designs… I feel that I've seen them before''

''They resemble the sculptured piece that was wore by Mimi Song during the runway in 20xx which featured Janice Yun's first designs. I took the inspiration from that and came up with these ones. They made alike but they are very different in their appearance and the energy they carry''

''What if this comes out and people notice it and calls it plagiarism? Natalie, do you want to disgrace me so that people will call me a fake?''

''As I said earlier, I take my work seriously because in the end my name will be added as the designer. Do you think that I would intentionally wreak my own reputation? Miss Susan, if you don trust me, then don't work with me. I will not allow you to insult my credibility''

''Alright. I will take the designs away. I will study them when I have the time. I will let you know my thoughts tomorrow''

''I will appreciate that'' Natalie stood up with her files.

''Do you want to bet?'' Susan asked when Natalie got to the door.

''Bet on what?''

''Mikael! Do you want to bet that he will not be swayed by me?''

''What?''

''I am going to make Mikael waiver. Since you are so sure that he will never cheat on your, I will prove to you that he is a man just like every other man out there and he can't resist my charm''

''And if you lose. What will you do?''

'What?''

Natalie turned to face her, ''it can't be a bet if you are not going to give up something. So, I want to know what you will give up when you lose because you are going to''

''If I win, you will leave Mikael's side forever''

''If you lose, then I want you to publicly acknowledge it and then leave the entertainment industries''

''What? Hey, what do you…''

''You dare to ask me to leave my husband but you don't dare to put your career on the line? Susan, whoever taught you about bets didn't tell you that you take heavy risks when betting for things in life? Also, a man who would waiver in the first place isn't the kind of man I would pick''

Susan's lips trembled as she looked at Natalie, she was totally lost for words. She wanted to strangle Natalie at that moment.

Looking at her, Natalie smiled saying, ''then I will consider that we have a deal''

''Hey! Natalie, I am going to deal with you'' Susan yelled as Natalie walked away.

….

''What guts that woman has. I am going to show her that I can't easily be bullied'' Susan said as she paced around in the office of William.

''Susan, I hope you don't provoke Natalie unnecessarily. She is pregnant and sensitive at this point''

''Are you supporting her? William, did you love for her turn you blind? That woman is sly. She is manipulative. She just pretends to be innocent and all that but she is sly''

''Why don't you let it rest? I will appoint someone else to work with you. Natalie is going to become busy now that festive seasons are approaching. Janice wants to make use of her talents to come out with festive season products. She will not be able to concentrate on your project''

''No. I want Natalie on this project William. We made this deal with her in mind. Don't tell me you've given up already? Tell me, is it because she is pregnant? She is still in her first trimester, anything can happen to the baby''

''Susan! Let me warn you. Don't try anything funny especially when it comes to Natalie's pregnancy. If you do anything to put Natalie's life in danger or the baby, I will not forgive you''

Susan laughed. ''I can't believe this. You are still protecting her after everything she made you go through?''

''She did not do anything to me. Those were my feelings and they can't be forced. I've come to terms with myself on where I stand with Natalie. I would not lose a worthy employee because of my own selfish reasons. You can cancel the project, the company will pay all the compensation involved to you''

''This is not over, William Yun'' Susan said and picked her bag and left.

The elevator dinged and Susan walked out. When she saw the file containing the designs still in her hands, she smirked and walked away.

….

First Hospital.

Natalie and Mikael entered the ward and saw only Mimi sitting up while leaning on the pillow in her bed.

''Elder sister, bro… Mikael you are here'' Mimi still felt awkward around Mikael and didn't know how to address him.

''Where is mom?'' Natalie placed the things they asked her buy earlier in the day down and walked closer to Mimi.

''Mom went out to get me ice cream. The doctor said I am allowed to eat sweets now''

''I see. How do you feel this evening?'' Natalie looked at Mimi's side where she still had a bandage around stomach.

''I'm fine, don't worry. Tomorrow, this will be taken off so that I can get ready to go home. You don't look too good. Did they make things difficult for you at the company?''

''No. right, Dindin keeps asking me to meet you. What do you want to do about her?''

'Don't tell her where I am. I want to leave the past behind me and everyone that was in it. Once I get out of this hospital, I want to go back to school. I want to become a school teacher''

''With your level of patience, do you think you can handle kids? Don't explode on someone's kid and get yourself into trouble'' Mikael said as he played with his phone while sitting on the couch.

''Aye, stop trying to dampen her enthusiasm. Mimi, is teaching what you really want to do? You can still leave a good life with the inheritance you have for the rest of your life''

''I know but, I want to take a new path and see where life takes me. As for the money, I intend to establish a foundation and push it into that''

''You seem to have reincarnated into a new being'' Mikael commented.

''Brother in law'' Mimi said and Mikael turned to look at her.

''What? Am I not telling the truth? Don't you miss the entertainment industry?''

''No, I don't miss it at all. Right now, I just want to live for me. I don't want to be in the spotlight anymore''

''Then, teaching is good for you''

''I know that already''

Natalie chuckled and shook her head.